Harlem - Duke Ellington

1917 ODJB are a sensation at Reisenweber's'. But make a short lived contribution to the New York scene.
New York - James P Johnson Harlem stride piano with Willie 'the Lion' Smith
Young Duke with 'Soda Fountain Rag' and 'The Duke's Serenaders'.
Duke Ellington 1923 'Sweet Dance' music in The Hollywood Inn with Wilbur Sweatman.
Then Elmer Snowden and the Washingtonians.
Bubber Miley and 'Hot Dance' music at 'The Club Kentucky', off Times Square, inspired to be yourself by classically trained Will Marion Cook. Ragtime, stride and the Blues from Bechet and Louis.
Paul Whiteman - King of Jazz - classically orientated orchestra leader until he heard hot jazz in L A. He endeavoured to 'make a lady out of jazz'. 
1920 'Whispering' sold more records than King Oliver.
Fletcher Henderson was Whiteman's black soul mate. The music was polite sweet at 'The Roseland' until Louis arrived in 1926. Then Louis messed with time and taught the band to swing. 10 choruses of 'Shanghai Shuffle' full of punch and bounce
500 'speakeasies' in Harlem - The Cotton Club - the girls; tall, tanned and terrific. With the help of Irving Mills, Duke opened in 1927 and made a name with 'jungle music' ... 
then Hollywood and the film 'Check and Double Check' ... 
Duke in Europe in 1933.
1939 Duke was in Europe again and rapturous reception proving rhythmic artistry without commercial populism was alive and well.
1940 'Jump for Joy' in Hollywood.
1941 Billy Strayhorn and RCA recordings, everything comes together.
1943 Duke keeps going through the war. No discipline, chaotic but brilliant musicians free to innovate producing brilliant cohesion. Individual voices and extended form at Carnegie Hall, 'Black Brown and Beige' ... 
Duke on the road but key musicians left and even Duke was in trouble by the mid 1950s ... but then Duke was born at The Newport Jazz Festival in 1956 !

musical theatre
the venues -
Reisenweber's, Roseland Ballroom, The Rhythm Club, Cafe Society, The Cotton Club, The Metropole, The Embers, Eddie Condon's, Carnegie Hall, Minton's Playhouse, Jimmy Ryan's, Nick's, 52ND street, Kelly's Stables, The Onyx Club
Johnny Hodges
Irving Berlin 
Al Jolson

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